Feilding Borough Council

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 35, 6 September 1890, Page 3

Feilding Borough Council

r " *^ Thursday, September 4, 1890. The ordinary rnoiuhly meeting was held as above. Present— The Mayor (Mr Lethbridge), Crs T. R. Chamberlain, Sandi- .. lands, Rutherford, \V. E. Chamberlain, S. J. Thompson, Haybittle and Goodbehere. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. From Messrs Prior and Haybittle, trustees for the late Thomas Price, enclosing a letter from J. F. Donnelly complaining of a nuisance proceeding from the Shamrock Boarding House drain in Fergusson street. From the poundkeeper, Mr J. H. Blacktuore, in reference to certain matters between himself and the Ranger. From A. McKenzie and J. H. Stevens, asking that the Engineer be directed to visit Arnofcfc street to inspect the site of the fence about to be erected on the south side of the street. From John Lang, asking to be relieved of bis appointment of ranger for the Borough. From W. Stevens, complaining that the ranger had impounded certain cattle and made certain charges which he deemed excessive. From W. Bellve, J. F. Donnelly and Mrs Oliver thanking the Council for placing the metal on the footpath in front of their premises in Fergusson street. From the Clerk to the Horowhenua County Council, stating the Council considered £'12 9s 8d 'or the hire of the Borough pile driver was excessive, and asking for a reduction. From Government Life Insurance Department, in reply to the application made by the Council for a reduction in the interest now paid on the loan, stating the reduction cannot be legally made. From Prior and Cooke, solicitors, enclosing account for £3 3s. From Messrs W. Heald, John Bartholomew and H. L. Shervvill, asking the Council to form and metal that piece of Fergusson street from Weld street to Denbigh street. From Wm. Reid, applying for permission to fell bush on the road line between Root and Port streets, and offering to do the same at the rate of 21s per acre. Report of the Clerk of works was read. Report of Finance Committee, with £78 10s lid accounts for the mouth. The councillors who had been re-elected, viz., Messrs Goodbehere, T. R. Chamberlain and W. G. Haybitile, made the customary declaration and. took their seats. The Mayor congratulated them on their re-election unopposed, and the Borough on having retained their services. The Mayor reported that the Public "Works Committee had placed in a secure position the log in the Kiwitea stream complained of by Mr Retemeyer at the last meeting of the Council. Proposed by Cr Sandilands, seconded by Cr Rutherford, That the report of the Finance Committee be a.^ojted. — C: r. Ie !. Proposed by Cr Haybittle, seconded by Cr S. J. Thompson, That the report of the Public Works Committee be adopted. — Carried. There was some discussa. on on ihe subject of the nuisance complained of by Mr Donnelly to bis landlords Messrs Prior and Haybittle. The Inspector of Nuisances, Mr Hill, said be had seen Mr Hally, who had undertaken not to continue the offence complained of. It was then i Proposed by Cr S. J. Thompson, sec•^onded by Cr T. R. Chamberlain, That the matter complained of by Mr Prior be left in the hands of the Inspector of Nuisances. — Carried.Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr W. E. Chamberlain, That the offer of Mr Reid to fell the bush on Port street and Root street adjoining his property, at 21s per acre, be accepted on condition that everything be telled stump high, and to be passed by the Clerk of Works. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Haybittle, seconded by Cr S. J. Thompson, That the matter of Mr Heald's request be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report at next meeting. — Carried. There was some discussion on the application of the Horowhenua Council for a reduction on the charge made for the use of the pile driver. Proposed by Cr Sandilands, seconded by Cr Goodbehere, That the application of the Horowhenua County Council for a reduction of charges for the use of the Borough monkey be not acceded to. — Carried. Proposed by Cr Goodbehere, seconded by Cr Rutherford, That the matter contained in the application of Messrs Stevens and McKenzie be referred to the Public Works Committee, to report at the next meeting of the Council. — Carried. Cr Sandilands, s\v ;king to the question of the letter of tji- ranger, suggested the resignation be accepted and the appointment be done away altogether. Proposed by Cr Thompson, seconded by Cr Sandilands, That the resignation of the ranger be accepted and his deposit of £5 be refunded to him. The Mayor, in speaking to the motioa, said that if the statements made in Mr Blackmore's letter were true the deposit of the ranger should be forfeited. Cr Goodbehere said this meant smashing up the whole thing and commencing everything over again. He wa of opinion they must have a ranger to protect n • only the public, but ihe roads. K o doubt the present ranger was unpopular, but thai was to be exi ecied. His charges were complained of, but he had charged no more than he waslegally entitled to do. It was a pity to open up the subject again. The Mayor considered if the ranger neglected his duty he should be held responsible. Cr Haybittle agreed with Cr Goodbehere. The twelve months in the existing agreement ought to be allowed to run. The Council might pass a resolution instructing the ranger that he must do better or his deposit would be forfeited. Cr Sandilands : There are eight months to run. Cr Thompson thought if the poundkeeper and the ranger did not get on well together he would be inclined to have them both despatched. The Mayor said he was inclined to let them go and draw up a new scale of - charges on a lower scale. Cr Rutherford said if they had no ranger they would find the streets crowded with oattle day and night. Cr T. R. Chamberlain thought the cattle kept the grass down in the streets - and obviated fires during the summer months. Cr Goodbehere said they could not deal with the ranger without determining the agreement with the poundkeeper, because they were both joined in the lease of the pound. As an amendment Cr Haybittle proposed, and Cr Goodbehere seconded, That with reference to the fc poundkeeper's complaint against the ranger, the latter be informed that unless he performs his duties properly in future he will be dismissed and bis deposit forfeited. This amendment was lost. Another amendment was then Proposed by Cr Sandilands, seconded "Uy Cr Thompson, -That the present lease Qf the pound and the services of the ranger

and poundkeeper be determined, and thai their several depo its be returned, and also that the office of poundkeeper until 6th November, be oil'ered to the present oc\.up:iiit of rhat office, proyided he will ac-cept the same on the following conditions, viz., tli.it lie pay the rent charges lo the Borough for the pound site, that he ac< ept aa payment for his sen ices the fees chargeable under the said Act, as the same shall be amended by a committee of this Council consisting of the Mii.io/, and Crs EUybittlp, Goodbehere and the mover. The amendment was carried and then became the substantive resolution. Or Goodbehere moved a?, an ainer.dment, which was seconded by Or Haybittle, That the present lease of the pound be determined forthwith, and that applications be called for a person to act as poundkeeper and ranger combined. Applicants to state a lump sum per annum he is willing to perform the duties for. This was lost. As another amendment it was Proposed by Or Goodbehere, seconded by (..'r Rutherford, That it being the opinion of the majority of this Council that as no ranger is required the poundkeeper be also dispensed with and the pound closed forthwith. — Lost Cr Haybittle thought that before any appointment was made by the Council the public shonld be allowed to compete for it. Cr Rutherford certainly thought applications should be invited by advertisement. The Mayor said he wanted to see the lease determined, and if they did not take this chance they might not get such another. The resolution was carried, on division, by the casting vote of the Mayor. The Council then adjourned.